Charlie grateful for Dons chance

This time last year, goalkeeper Charlie Burns was considering applying for University after being told that he was not to be offered a professional contract at stadiummk.

Fast forward 12 months, however, and the 18-year-old is now preparing to return for pre-season one of Karl Robinson’s latest young professional, after penning a one-year deal with MK Dons on Monday.

“At the end of last season I was told that I wasn’t going to be kept on which was heart-breaking,” Burns explained to mkdons.com. “I didn’t know what I was going to do and so I started looking at possibly going to University.

“I then got given a chance to come back and play with the Academy. That whole process helped me because I experienced being out of football and I realised how much harder I need to work. That experience, looking back, did me the world of good.”

The signing caps off a whirlwind past fortnight for Burns, who also made his senior debut on the final day of the season against Leyton Orient, but the Surrey-based shot stopper refuses to get comfortable and has his eyes focused on returning next year in the best possible condition.

He added: “I’m looking to get away for a week with my parents but then I’ll be coming back and looking to get going again, getting back in the gym and doing some fitness work.

“I’ve been working a lot of with Damo (Damien Doyle) since Christmas to try and build up my strength and work on bulking up. That’s an ongoing programme which I’ll be working on throughout the my break.”